The word "bread" is associated in Russian culture with hospitality, bread being the most respected food .The tradition gave rise to the Russian word that expresses a person's hospitality: "khlebosolny".

Bread is the staple food in Europe, owing to its high levels of gluten, a source of protein. Gluten is a type of protein found in most grains, cereals, and breads.

Bread has a significance beyond mere nutrition. Fresh bread is prized for its taste, aroma, quality, appearance and texture. Retaining its freshness is important to keep it appetizing.

Rye bread is a type of bread made with various percentages of flour from rye grain. Rye bread contains a large amount of fiber and only a little fat. Rye bread does not create high spikes in blood sugar as white bread and other breads do. Pure rye bread contains only rye flour, without any wheat.

The pinnacle of Russian breads is Borodinsky, a dark bread sweetened with treacle and flavoured with coriander, named after the village near Moscow where a stand was made against Napoleon.